Roger Machado plans São Paulo changes, sends message to squad | OneFootball

Coach Roger Machado understands that he will need to rotate São Paulo’s lineup given the demanding schedule the team will face until the World Cup break. Next week, for example, Tricolor will make two trips for two away matches, increasing the players’ level of fatigue.

“We will definitely need to make changes to the team. There are 16 matches until the break [for the World Cup], consecutive games with very little recovery time. This win happened above all because of the level of commitment the players have always shown in training,” the coach acknowledged after the rout over Cruzeiro last Saturday.

São Paulo, for example, visit Boston River-URU this Tuesday in the opening round of the Copa Sudamericana. Four days later, they will travel to Barradão, in Salvador (BA), to face Vitória, this time in the 11th round of Série A.

Given this scenario, the manager opened the door to the entire squad. Roger revealed that he spoke with the group to make it clear that, with such a high number of matches, everyone could get opportunities in this run of Brasileirão, Sudamericana and Copa do Brasil games. He did, however, rule out prioritizing one competition over another.

“I stressed to them to stay ready because I’m going to need to make changes, use players who are 100% recovered in terms of fatigue and players who haven’t had a run of games, who have fewer minutes. [All of this] so that we can keep our chances alive in different competitions with the weight of trying to win them, not to choose one competition or another,” said the coach.

Amid this situation, less-used players such as Pablo Maia and Ferreira, as well as youngsters from Cotia like Tetê, Pedro Ferreira and Lucca, could earn more space in the lineups.

In fact, changes are already expected this Tuesday. Center back Sabino was substituted at halftime against Cruzeiro after discomfort in his right knee and is doubtful for the match, as is forward Luciano, who left the field with pain in his right calf. Both will be re-evaluated. Calleri could also be absent, since the CBF’s concussion protocol should be triggered after the Argentine suffered a head clash and needed eight stitches above his eyebrow.

Possibility of a tactical change

Roger Machado also addressed the possibility of another tactical change at São Paulo, as was done in the matches against Internacional and Cruzeiro. In the draw against Colorado, Tricolor played with one winger. In the rout over Raposa, meanwhile, the coach opted for two natural wingers (Artur and Ferreira), alongside Luciano as the No. 10 and Calleri as the reference up front.

“This line of thinking started when Lucas got injured. We had the diamond shape with Lucas as an attacking winger, and I could use Luciano more as a forward than as a midfielder. When Lucas had to be absent because of the injury, combined with Artur’s arrival, it became very clear what needed to be done. Even in wins, we felt the difficulty when opponents crowded the middle and we had few alternatives, because our full-backs couldn’t see a connection. That’s where we started from,” Roger said.

Against Cruzeiro, Danielzinho ended up being left out and lost his place in the starting lineup to Ferreira on the left side. Even so, Roger Machado was far from ruling the player out and weighed the possibility of another strategic change for away matches.

“I see Daniel as a great alternative because, in an away game, I can very well use three midfielders with two wingers, and give up the figure who plays behind the center forward in order to have stronger control in the middle. Danielzinho has already played the same role Marcos Antônio played at times, covering the flank and playing inside, as against Mirassol. When he moved inside, Lucas [Ramon] occupied the entire corridor. There are many alternatives; it’s not limited to competing for one position. Especially because there are many competitions,” Roger concluded.

Boston River-URU x São Paulo (first round of the Sudamericana) Date and time: 04/07 (Tuesday), 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) Venue: Estádio Centenário, in Montevideo (Uruguay)

Vitória x São Paulo (11th round of the Brasileirão) Date and time: 04/11 (Saturday), 4:30 p.m. (Brasília time) Venue: Barradão, in Salvador (BA)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.